Nick's Voice
How have increased tuition fees impacted you and your family?:
The budget cuts are affecting me two-fold. First, my Dad works for the county of Santa Cruz and has had a pay cut of roughly 10% for the last couple of years. Government at both the state and local level is cutting back and it continues to hurt the same part of the population. Second, the cuts at the state level have not only made the price of one semester significantly more expensive, but have added the number of total semesters students need for a degree because of the limited class options. Not only that, but the stress that these hard times put on our professors is noteworthy and definitely has a negative impact in the classroom environment. Personally the growing financial burden is becoming a bigger distraction that takes time away from school and tensions at home.
I've been searching for solutions and have only thought of implementing an oil severance tax on the oil taken/drilled in California. Another solution on a campus-by-campus basis would be to allow campuses to add a campus-tax on items sold on campus. The money raised from the campus tax would help support the infrastructure and maintenance of the campus like a regular tax does in a city. Finally, I would propose making it easier for businesses to do business in California (name drop Meg Whitman lol), but also raising state taxes (or at least allowing cities to raise their own taxes more easily).
p.s. there needs to be a way to fix prop. 13
What are you studying at SF State and what do you hope to do once you graduate?:
I am considering a career in politics or photo journalism.
Nick M., 19 Santa Cruz, CA
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